Re: For the first time in history, marriage equality wins popular vote on ballot!

Not only was last night monumental in that for the first time ever, a minority group won a popular vote on ballot, but this also means it is significantly more likely that SCOTUS will rule in favor of gay rights seeing the current social trends. That means laws like DOMA could very well be coming to an end very soon, and that the results could end up far-reaching!:

Election night four years ago was one bittersweet affair for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans. They swooned over the history-making election of then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) as the nation’s first black president. But they despaired over California’s approval of a constitutional ban of same-sex marriage, coming in a state Obama won handily.

But election night 2012 was different. Last night was a night of firsts.

President Obama was the first sitting president to come out in favor of marriage equality, and it didn’t cost him at the polls. For the first time ever, a ballot measure against same-sex marriage (in Minnesota) was defeated. And for the first time ever, voters said yes to marriage-equality measures in Maine, Maryland and Washington state. The rights of a minority should never be put to a popular vote. Yet when the results favor equality, you can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Since the 1990s, voters in 30 states have denied same-sex couples the right to marry and to enjoy the dignity and security that goes with it. What happened last night ended a shameful streak that condoned discrimination. It also marked what many advocates believe is a tipping point.

“It is clear that marriage-equality opponents are fighting a losing battle and our movement for full equality is at a tipping point,” said Sharon Lettman-Hicks, the executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition. “More and more Americans are realizing that LGBT people deserve the same protections to care for the people they love.”

Brian Ellner, who ran the New York marriage effort and co-founded The Four 2012 , agrees. “[b]y winning for the first time on marriage at the ballot box, we made clear what national polls already show — that Americans support fairness and equality for all families,” he said. “Questions on civil rights should not be up for popular vote, but because they were, we mobilized. Because of it, as the Supreme Court considers marriage equality this term, the Justices now know America is with us. America is ready.”

Later this month, the Supreme Court will decide whether to take up any or all of the marriage-equality cases seeking its review. Some don’t think it is right for the courts to impose its will on the people. When it comes to equal protection under the law and guaranteeing basic civil rights, I’m all for it. That’s why yesterday’s four-state sweep — the culmination of nearly two decades of incremental advancement — is so important as the high court considers a review.

When I asked Freedom to Marry founder Evan Wolfson last night how last night’s results might impact the Supreme Court, he put the drama of this moment into perspective.

"Winning the freedom to marry at the ballot takes away the opposition’s last talking point, that the people do not support the freedom to marry, and shows the irrefutable momentum in favor of ending marriage discrimination. We’ve won in courts, in legislatures, in the heartland as well as the coasts, and with Republicans as well as Democrats — and built a nationwide majority for marriage. When the justices consider a marriage case, they can rule in favor of the freedom to marry knowing that they will not only be on the right side of history, but well within the center of gravity of the American people."

The people of Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington state have spoken. I hope the justices are listening.

Re: For the first time in history, marriage equality wins popular vote on ballot!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topspindoctor

Good, now hopefully you will finally stfu and stop spamming your bullshit. Mods should really merge your thread into one fairy talk thread, where you are free to post gay porn and talk to yourself about how you enjoy dropping the soap. But that wont happen despite the fact that this site is supposed to be user friendly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topspindoctor

Dont forget to report yourself for the personal attacks as well, btw. This site is supposed to be PG, but then I open front page in non tennis and see a topic called slob on my knob and the mods do nothing. Not appropriate. Not to mention you flood romantic talk thread with very graphic and filthy description of what you do with other men as if you don't do it enough anywhere else, pretty much turning it into your personal playground and stopping other users from posting in it. You are a classic attention whore , don't whine when you get called out on it, you dish it out well but you cant take it. Pretty pathetic.

Re: For the first time in history, marriage equality wins popular vote on ballot!

Exit polls on the marriage votes highlight clearly which groups tend to be in favor of marriage equality, and which groups tend to be against it:

People 18-29 supported marriage equality in the four states at a rate of about 2-1. People 30-45 supported marriage equality at around a 60% clip. So it's very, very evident that we have basically won on this issue. Older voters are dying off and being flushed out of the electorate and being replaced by pro-gay youth.

Liberals supported marriage equality at a 80-90% clip. Notice I said liberals, and not Democrats, although the Democratic figure is actually pretty close in line with the liberal number. But not all Democrats are liberals. Liberal Republicans also voted for the marriage amendments. Around 20-25% of Republicans aggregate in the four states voted for equality.

Women backed equality at a rate near/around the 60% range in all four states. In Maryland around 2/3s of women with children supported marriage equality. That honestly makes me want to cry. Our girls backed us up

Single people were significantly pro-quality in all four states.

People who do not regularly go to church supported equality at a rate in the mid-to-high 70s to 80s. Goes to show that without religion, there aren't any viable reasons to deny same-sex couples marriage for most.

A majority of Independents supported equality in all four states, which is again a major difference maker, given there are more self-described Independent voters than ever before.

Around 60% of Latinos support marriage equality countrywide. In a state like Washington where 11% of the populous is Latino, that is huge. White people broke for equality in all four states. Liberal, higher-educated, higher-income whites tend to vote for equality, and conservative, lesser-educated, lower-income whites tend to vote against.

Groups that are against equality:

Married men broke against us overall, and married voters in general were evenly split. But given women vote more than men and women are more pro-equality than men, any negative numbers from straight men were essentially rendered irrelevant as women were more pro-equality than men against.

Black voters voted against us in Maryland, the only state where they have a significant percentage of the populous, but it was close, which is important, because if black voters voted significantly against us, we would have lost in Maryland. There is definitely homophobia issues in the black community needed to be addressed but not significantly more than other communities.

People over 50 voted against us, especially over 65.

75-80+ of Republicans voted against equality. No surprise. Goes to show that the two parties have completely opposite views on the track our country should go on.

The overwhelming majority of regular church goers voted against marriage equality. Again, no surprise. Religious conservatism is the primary cause of homophobia in America, as if we needed any validation of this fact, the results last night proved it.

Rural/suburban area voters were overall against marriage equality, however several non-city centers in all four states were very close in either direction, pro and against. That's another reason why we won. We've made improvements in rural areas throughout America. They're less scared of gay people.

Re: For the first time in history, marriage equality wins popular vote on ballot!

So in short, the people who tend to be most for equality are those who are less religious, live in city centers, college-educated, 40 and under, social liberals, with women being more pro-equality than men.

The people who tend to be against equality are religious, conservative, older people are against equality, married males, and people who in general are less educated, make less money, and live in suburbs, towns and rural areas.

Hmmmmmm, when I put it this way, isn't is SO FUCKING OBVIOUS which side is the one to support?

Re: For the first time in history, marriage equality wins popular vote on ballot!

BTW, if you're gonna come into this thread to bash me, get the fuck out. Fuck you and get the fuck out of this thread. You're not welcome. This is a safe place to celebrate an amazing moment, and I'm not going to allow you attention-whore assholes take that off track. Get over your paranoia and obsessive hate of me for no reason and find some happiness in your pathetic lives.

Re: For the first time in history, marriage equality wins popular vote on ballot!

I live in Maryland, and I cannot count the number of times one of my friends said to me on Wednesday "Hey, bro, Question 6 has been passed! Want to get engaged!" or something along those lines. I know they're joking, but still it's so awkward

(I wonder if you will move upwards a state, Francis?)

Good day for homosexuals. I know, as rocketassist said, you don't need to marry to love another. But the marriage law allows a homosexual to marry in front of the public proudly without being persecuted.